The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) has within its regulations the ability to designate and certify occupations within Saskatchewan that fall outside of the designated skilled trades. Examples of occupations can include, but are not limited to: educational assistants, health care workers, cyber security jobs, manufacturing jobs, finance and business administration jobs, warehouse jobs, technology sector jobs, tourism and hospitality jobs, transportation jobs, and mining jobs.

This means an employer/employee working in a designated occupation can receive a provincially recognized occupational certification based on work experience and/or other requirements determined by your industry. This may include, but is not limited to: work experience, technical training, and/or certification examinations.  A designated occupation has standards for training and certification, but does not necessarily require participation in a formal training program to work in and learn the occupation. (It’s also possible that industry-recognized training already exists.)

Any employer and/or employee working in an occupation or sector can request designation of an occupation.

A designated occupation is an occupation designated under The Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Act, 2019.

Designation of an occupation means that legislated rules apply; and that standards, on-the-job and technical training, and certification examinations may be established. When an individual meets the standards prescribed by the industry, the SATCC grants them a certificate.

There is an application process and standard forms must be completed to initiate the process of designating an occupation.

Occupation designation has benefits for both employers and employees, including:

• Standardized, consistent, industry-recognized training – equals recognized skills for employers hiring employees certified in an occupation, where employers know the training and certification requirements.
• Safe, certified workforce – employees certified in the occupation will have received industry-recognized training helping to ensure they perform their jobs safely, efficiently, and effectively.
• Succession planning – certified workers can help train a company’s next generation of skilled workers.
• Professionalism – designating an occupation helps professionalize the position. Consumers can be confident that someone certified in an occupation has the skills and knowledge to perform excellent work.

For more information on the benefits or the process for designating an occupation in your industry, visit saskapprenticeship.ca/occupation-designation or contact the Director of Apprenticeship Services toll free at 1-877-363-0536.